Oh, gentlemen, perhaps I really regard myself as an intelligent man only because throughout my entire life I’ve never been able to start or finish anything... Every man has some reminiscences which he would not tell to everyone, but only to his friends. He has others which he would not reveal even to his friends, but only to himself, and that in secret. But finally there are still others which a man is even afraid to tell himself...

Friday, October 19, 2007

Ezzo

The best ending award goes to Yetraba fi 3ezzo. Of all the Ramadan series, it hasn't been the most spectacular, but I dare say that it had the most spectacular ending. Despite the force fed message and the unlikelihood of dramatic change and the Egyptian effort to always tie up loose ends very neatly, it has managed to remain spectacular nonetheless. This is owed to mostly the great performance of Yehia El Fakharani and the intensity of the situation which brought about his change. The truth of the matter is that this ending is a culmination of all the good change that can be brought about by a slap in the face.

We've had to endure an obnoxious, uncaring and selfish Hamada for the whole of Ramadan. The problem of course being that the character was close to reality and it hit a nerve. Nothing would stand in the face of his selfishness and his blindness. The annoyance of having to watch him for over twenty episodes go down the usual path of self centered actions was unbearable and yet it was worth it to watch those excruciating 28 episodes not for the change that he underwent but for the mere satisfaction of seeing him finally realize what he has been doing. It is worth it to see that he finally woke up to see who he is and to recognize the hurt he's left on all those around him. The change itself is an idealistic ending that should not be expected, but when we meet people who are in total disregard for all those around them the most we can ever hope for is that they open their eyes and that can be their punishment and it's not usual to look for atonement.

However Hamada is a very likable guy and we really hope for a change, we like him and care for him no matter how much we despise his character and perhaps that's why his atonement was something we were waiting for. I suppose that's the difference between Egyptian drama and other sorts, Egyptian drama has to offer punishment and atonement rather than stop at punishment alone. Indeed in most cases real life drama does not offer either and some arts that claim to reflect reality will give us neither.

In any case back to the last two episodes, there was genuine feeling and had Yehia El Fakharany taken upon himself to participate in these series for the last two episodes alone I would certainly not blame him; for very few series offer artists this great challenge of displaying genuine emotions to a somewhat complex character. The build up was a little exaggerated but the swift ending and dramatic change caught us off guard and I'm not sure if those final episodes alone can stand out as brilliant performances but I do know that even with the previous somehow frustrating episodes it was worth it.

To be honest I hadn't expected a great turn around, I felt all roads closed, and I felt the incapacity for the character to change. That's why Yetraba Fi Ezzo had it been done without the dramatic turnaround it still would have been a good reflection of reality that offered no solution. I've always held a firm belief that for everyone there's a certain slap in the face that can bring about dramatic change, we can never imagine where that slap comes from but that's part of why it's the only thing that can bring about change. While change in general is difficult this is the only exit for people trapped in their ugly habits. The thing is that anything less dramatic wouldn't have been believable and in all fairness we see Hamada at the end retaining some of his flamboyant and boyish traits that nothing can erase. This is what makes the ending believable in my opinion.

So that's why the best award goes to Hamada Ezzo for changing the pace along the way. With Yosra, the show had a constant and consistent build up whose ending was inevitable, but with Hamada I was tricked into thinking that nothing could ever change, and in most cases I was right. I won't say that the ending of this dramatic change was a surprise to me, on the contrary, I had expected it from the start. I only expected it to be a gradual change of a man and I wasn't offered that right up to the very end. The reason I discounted a dramatic change is that I wouldn't have believed that a big change can come about so suddenly or in so few episodes.

Okay maybe I'm just writing this after being affected by moving performances by those involved in the show, but I decided it was best to express what I thought. I also like that Yehia El Fakharani works in silence. He doesn't try to add much unneeded propaganda to his show and speaks to us through his work.

6 comments:

it's so true how real life does not necessarily offer either punishment and atonement, at least not the notable type...

regarding how ppl change, i always thought that death is one of the strong factors that can cause it... in case of ezzo, i actually paused to imagine how it would be for a guy like hamada to lose his ma.. in that particular way, very rough i actually sympathized (yeah yeah sappy me)...

but the change wouldn't have taken that quick effect, at least showayet nakad and depression and then some time to make further calculations and realize which relationships needed fixing and to think of ways of fixing them... as much as the change was good to see, it felt 'metkarwet', enjoyed watching it though, i know what u meant and i agree...

I just thought that with all the short comings of the show, that 29th episode was worth making it..

You're right, the review is worth checking, it's more in depth. I agree with lots of it and I agree that the last two episodes are too quick and had it not been for brilliant performances they would not have had the desired effect.

Totally unrelated to any of your posts but I’m just curious... have u read anything worthwhile lately?I'm sending this msg to a couple of my favorite bloggies hoping to find something that can keep me company from my next 2 weeks of exile.

I believe that El-Fakharani is one of the few worthwhile performers of our time. Despite only catching a few episodes of the series, I had no doubt that *eventually* he knows what he's doing, there's a moral to this story and there will come a scene that will have the deepest effect on the viewers! Unlike most viewers I didn't cry for the death of Mama Nouna, rather for how he took it *if you recall the scene when he was walking around after she died, completely out of focus when he went to buy beliela and cried eating it*. I love the fact that he didn't change, it would've been too perfect.. he's still the spoilt Hamada Ezzo, just a tat more considerate about other people's feelings! My favorite series for El-Fakharani is definitely Abbass El-Abyad!

P.S. I simply love your blog, just came across it very recently and I'm wondering.. does the header have anything to do with "el-7arir street" near "Mo7ie El-Din"?

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“Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.”